Oakland could take advantage if Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to struggle

Share this:

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers in the game at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

There are reasons to believe the Road Raiders’ first of five consecutive games played away from the Coliseum has a chance to end well.

Patrick Mahomes notwithstanding, the Raiders defense has shown signs of improvement, as has the offense led by Derek Carr. But those may not be the determining factors in whether they win or lose on Sunday.

It could come down to which Kirk Cousins is quarterbacking the Vikings. Is it the guy who starred under the tutelage of then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washington? Or the guy who came to Minnesota looking to deliver a title and has barely provided a winning record (9-8-1) with the Vikings?

Vikings fans have grown a bit restless with the man with the $84 million guaranteed contract after Cousins’ troubles this season. He completed just 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions and he fumbled twice in the loss to Green Bay. Cousins, who was erratic throughout the game, had a chance to win the game but was picked off in the end zone by former Bishop O’Dowd High star Kevin King. Coming off a disappointing season in which the Vikings were 19th in total offense, 21st in points in the red zone and 26th on third-down conversions, Cousins has been even more underwhelming at times.

A tight end reprieve?

One constant during the Raiders’ tough times the past few years has been their inability to cover opposing tight ends, even those whose name isn’t Travis Kelce. But if the Vikings’ first two games are any indication, Oakland may not need to worry a whole lot. After not catching a pass in the opener, Minnesota’s starting tight end Kyle Rudolph had three grabs for just nine yards against the Packers. In two career games against Oakland, Rudolph has four catches for 14 yards. Rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr., the former Alabama star, has just one catch for minus 1 yard through two games. This seems an appropriate spot for someone connected with the Raiders to ask for a knock on wood.

Carlson’s revenge

Hard as it may be to fathom for the Raiders and their fans, kicker Daniel Carlson wasn’t always perfect. The former Auburn kicker faced big expectations in Minnesota last year when the Vikings drafted him in the fifth round. He missed three field goals against the rival Packers and was released after just two games in Minnesota. He gets a chance to show the Vikings and their fans he’s no longer the kicker who couldn’t kick straight. Since joining the Raiders, Carlson hasn’t missed. In his last 11 games, including preseason, Carlson has made 19 field goals without a miss and nailed all 21 of his extra points.

THREE REASONS FOR RAIDERS’ PESSIMISM:

The quarterback hunters

The Raiders will get Pro Bowl guard Richie Incognito back from a two-game NFL suspension on Sunday and the timing couldn’t be better as Oakland faces a formidable Vikings defensive line, led by Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. Raiders right tackle Kolton Miller must deal with Hunter, who has two sacks in two games after recording 14.5 last season. Hunter and Griffen are tied for the most quarterback pressures this season. Griffen, in fact, had 11 pressures on Aaron Rodgers last Sunday.

Can’t keep a good team down

Minnesota rebounded from a terrible star against the Packers that saw the Vikes fall behind 21-0 in the second quarter. But, from that point on, Green Bay was shut out and the Vikings’ offense got an electric, 75-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook to help it climb back into the game. Yes, the Vikings lost, but the Raiders just allowed the Chiefs to overcome a slow start and a 10-0 deficit on their way to a huge win in Oakland. Sustainability could be a Raiders buzzword this week.

For those keeping track, Sunday marks the first of an NFL-high seven games played at 10 a.m. PT for the Raiders this season. Traditionally, the Raiders haven’t fared well in Sunday morning games — from 2009-15 Oakland lost all 15 of its 10 a.m. PT ames. Also, don’t forget, the Raiders are just starting an unprecedented 48-day stretch where they don’t play a game at home in Oakland.

PROBABLE DIFFERENCE-MAKER: Dalvin Cook.

In his third season, Cook appears on his way to a huge season as he’s erupted for an NFL-best 265 yards rushing and has scored three touchdowns in the Vikings’ first two games. The speedy Cook, who missed a large chunk of the 2018 season with a hamstring injury, can creat huge problems for a defense, just ask the Packers. Cook ripped off a 75-yard TD run while on his way to rushing for a career-high 154 yards rushing.